On my way to Cortondo, I decided to go by Area 6 first. I called for a Flying Taxi and went there.

  Unlike in the games, the Flying Taxi can take you anywhere without needing to have gone there already. How convenient.

  However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to stop just before. The cause? A giant snowstorm.

  And what lurked within it.

  Cold eyes that seemed to gaze into your very soul. Teeth made of bdes that emanated killing intent. White fur, as white as the innocent avanche, burying all beneath it with overwhelming power when it feels like it.

  The Treasure of Ruin: Chien-Pao

  It looked me dead in the eye. A chill ran up my spine. By all means, it should be sealed, so what broke it out?

  I had to do my best to deal with this thing.

  ’Dracon, Shine, Grudgefist!’

  Grudgefist was the most recent addition to the team and my sixth Pokemon: A Primeape. It was quite the strong Pokemon and would eventually be one of the strongest, Annihipe. It also had Close Combat, an attack that moves so quickly even I, who can remember every animation, can’t manage to find a way to dodge it. Truly s force to behold.

  However, we were against that thing, and it would not show us mercy.

  ’Grudgefist, Close Combat! Shine, move to the left and Salt Cure! Dracon, use Whirlpool!’

  The first move I had Dracon learn when it evolved into Gyarados was Whirlpool, an attack that restricted the target’s movements and did damage over time. With my knowledge of their movement speed, I could predict just where to put the whirlpool.

  Then, it stared me down with its cold dead eyes.

  Next thing I knew, freezing spears had pierced through my arm.

  It hurt so much it felt fine. I had lost so much blood I was forced to be calm. I was reminded yet again that I was against a beast who would not spare me.

  I wanted to run, but I can’t. I used some potion to sanitise the wound whilst dodging its attacks. It seemed to be focusing on me instead of my one on, meaning Grudgefist could ram away at it.

  And now for my finishing move.

  ’Shine, use Rock Slide!’

  A rush of rocks came crashing down on Chien-Pao, keeping it trapped.

  I had twenty timer balls, and they had all reached max power. I had only twenty chances.

  Failure after failure, I was left with only one timer ball and a dream.

  I threw it at the Treasure of Ruin.

  One roll, two rolls…

  And it was caught.

  The snowstorm dissipated, and it felt warm again.

  I lost too much blood, so I fell down.

  Right before I lost consciousness, I saw a man in a bck suit. He looked familiar.

  Giovanni. Leader of Team Rocket. And the user of Mega Mewtwo Y.

  Why was he in Paldea? What were his goals?

  I woke up in a hospital. They said that a Flying Taxi saw me passed out and took me here. I had been asleep for two days.

  I held the ball that contained Chien-Pak in my hand. It no longer held any killing intent. Maybe it recognised me after I caught it?

  ’You’ll be called Excalibur now. Excalibur the Sword of Ruin.’

  It felt like Excalibur was happy about that,

  Besides my bed were three strange items. I chuckled to myself.

  ’Ironic that I received these instead of a Tera Orb.’

  These items would be alien to anyone but me here. A Mega Bracelet, a Z-Ring and a Dynamax Band.

  This meant two things.

  One, that someone here had knowledge of these things and gave them to me. Secondly, the story progression was about to get out of whack.

  Well, I suppose it would anyways since I caught one of the Treasures of Ruin.

  Why do I always get myself caught up in these things?!